“This new building provides an outstanding learning, teaching, and research environment for our students, faculty, and staff.”

- Arun K. Somani, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering Iowa State University

Coover Hall of Engineering

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa

41,000 gsf addition; 69,000 gsf renovation

$14,000,000 (addition)

2008 (addition)

The addition and renovations to the Coover Hall Engineering Building at Iowa State University for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering provided new classrooms, teaching and research engineering laboratories, and meeting space, as well as a new interdisciplinary research suite where vibration-sensitive laser research is conducted. The addition was designed for maximum flexibility and incorporates raised floor technology in the laboratories for under-floor distribution of HVAC, network, and power. The project was designed in accordance with principles of sustainability, incorporating energy conservation, air quality, water conservation, storm drainage detention, and other sustainable design features.

Key design challenges for this project included creating via the addition a new, forward-thinking physical image for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, incorporating the additional building program on the highly constrained site, and strategizing the addition and renovations to minimize disruption to the ongoing academic programs of the department during construction.

The project was organized as a two-phased construction process, with the first phase consisting of the addition, and the second refurbishing existing Coover Hall.

Ellenzweig served as Design Architect and Laboratory/Education Facilities Planner in association with OPN Architects, Inc., Architect of Record.